Method and device for assigning addresses in a system having a plurality of generator units positioned in parallel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for assigning addresses in a system having a plurality of generator units connected in parallel. After receiving a start signal, the first generator unit assigns itself an individual address and outputs an identification signal at its control-signal output. Each of the further generator units receives an identification signal output at the control-signal output of a generator unit upstream of it, and assigns itself an individual address as a function of the identification signal received in each case.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for assigning addresses in a system including a first generator unit and at least one further generator unit positioned in parallel to the first generator unit, each of the generator units having a control-signal input and a control-signal output, and the control-signal input of each further generator unit being connected in each case to the control-signal output of another of the generator units, comprising:
 after receiving a start signal, assigning the first generator unit an individual address to itself based on a control signal applied to the control-signal input of the first generator unit and outputting a first identification signal at the control-signal output of the first generator unit; and   receiving by each further generator unit an identification signal output at the control-signal output of an upstream generator unit and assigning each further generator unit to itself an individual address as a function of the identification signal received.   
     
     
         13 . the method according to  claim 12 , wherein the control signal supplied to the control-signal input of the first generator unit has a predefined voltage level. 
     
     
         14 . the method according to  claim 12 , wherein after receiving the control signal, the first generator unit identifies itself as master for a parallel operation of the generator units. 
     
     
         15 . the method according to  claim 12 , wherein the generator units transmit an individual address via a data bus to a control unit. 
     
     
         16 . the method according to  claim 15 , wherein, after receiving a query signal output by the control unit, the generator units transmit the individual address via the data bus to the control unit. 
     
     
         17 . A device, comprising
 a first generator unit;   at least one further generator unit positioned in parallel to the first generator unit;   wherein each generator unit includes a control-signal input, a control-signal output, and a data interface; and   wherein each of the control-signal inputs of the further generator units is connected to the control-signal output of an upstream generator unit.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a data bus to which the data interfaces of the generator units are connected. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the data interfaces of the generator units are connected via the data bus to a control unit. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the generator units each have a controller and a generator, self-assignment of an individual address is performed by the controller of the respective generator unit, and the controller is provided to transmit the individual address via the data bus to the control unit. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the controller is provided to transmit the individual address via the data bus to the control unit after receiving a query signal output by the control unit. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the generator units connected in parallel are configured to make the supply voltage available for loads of a vehicle electrical system. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the device is configured to perform the method recited in  claim 12 .